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Honokaa

Tex Drive-In

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45-690 Pakalana St.
Honokaa, Hawaii 96727
(808) 775-0598

azsunluvr
azsunluvr
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Editor Pick

Tex Drive Inn

  • May 13, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by golden101 from Honokaa, Hawaii
This small drive inn off of Highway 19 has the best malassadas around. This restaurant was renovated by Ada Lamme when she bought the old Tex Drive Inn many years ago. Tex sells close to 50,000 malassadas, which is a cake-like doughnut (without the doughnut hole) filled with various creme and other types of filling, per month. These sugar rolled morsels are filled with pineapple/papaya preserves, pepper jelly, or Bavarian cream. Malassadas run about $.80 to $1.00 each depending on what type of filling you order. The menu has a local flavor and features ethnic (local) specialties such as Korean chicken, teriyaki meat, chicken katsu, kalua pork with cabbage, and Filipino specials. Their plate lunches run around $8.00 and are served with a side of rice and macaroni salad. They also sell hamburgers, chili, and favorites like saimin and bentos(sushi and meat in a plastic container). Tex enlarged their kitchen area so that customers can see workers actually make the malassadas. Tex used to have a large retail store that carried Hawaiian crafts, local coffees and gift items but it was recently closed. I would definitely recommend buying malassadas at this drive inn. It is also a nice place to grab a quick bite if you are passing through on Highway 19. There is ample parking in their large parking lot. There is a small plant/gardening store to the right of Tex Drive Inn called Mohala Pua which is also owned by Ada Lamme. This is a nice store to browse in and look at local plants. There is a bathroom in the same building that Tex is located in. To get to Tex Drive Inn from Waimea town, just continue down Highway 19 heading to Hilo. You will see a large sign that reads Welcome to Honokaa Town. Make a left turn down Pakalana Street and turn left into Tex Drive Inn.

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From journal Dining on the Big Island of Hawaii

Tex Drive-In

  • July 26, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by azsunluvr from Mesa, Arizona
A hot, fresh malasada is one of the great pleasures of Hawaii. Tex's was recommended by our Kama'aina (old-timer, local) friends. On our way back to Kona from Hilo, we stopped at Tex Drive In in Honokaa for malasadas. What a treat! It was busy, even quite late in the evening. Diners can watch the fresh malasadas being made through a window inside the dining area.

Not just warm, these hot malasadas are well worth a stop!

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From journal 11 Day Hawaii Vacation--Maui and the Big Island

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